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4 Bedrooms

Sleeps 8

5 baths

About our home

Our fully modernised 19th century Charentaise home is situated on the banks of the River Charente in a pretty heritage village close to a wide range of activities and within 45 mins of gorgeous beaches along the coast and the islands of Ile De Re and Oleron.

There are wonderful open views of countryside from all of the spacious and light filled main rooms and each ground floor room leads out onto a large dining terrace overlooking the river, where our day boat, Tibato, is moored right in front of the house. The high spec kitchen, with open plan dining area that seats 8, is a cook's dream, with granite worktops, a large island unit, two ovens, warming drawer, induction hob and dual boiling/chilled water ziptap. The living room showcases the stone walls and large open fireplace with wood burning stove, typical of this region. A more casual family room, shower room and laundry/boot room complete the ground floor layout.
On the first floor there is a double bedroom with King size (180x200) sleigh bed and en suite bathroom,
a double bedroom with King size bed (which can be split as 2 singles) and en suite dressing /shower room in the oak-beamed grenier, a further double with queen size bed, a separate shower room and a study/library,
The large Master Suite on the 2nd floor has dual aspect views of the river and garden and a walk in rain shower and free-standing bath. Furnishings and bed linen are of a high standard and equipment supplied includes 3 flat screen TVs with Sky, DVD player, 2 Bose IPod docking stations and high speed WIFI internet access.

The large south and west facing rear garden is surrounded by stone walls and features a lovely old covered well. Around the heated pool (April - October), there are two wooden deck areas with loungers, a solar shower and 2 shady hammocks under the wisteria-clad pergola. Within the garden courtyard there is a fountain, petanque pitch and summer kitchen fully equipped with crockery and glasses, dishwasher, combination oven, fridge and wine cave and a large barbecue. The covered dining loggia provides welcome shade during the day and a cosy candle-lit atmosphere in the evenings.

In the village, within a five minute stroll of the house, you will find an artisan bakery and patisserie, a general store, post office, bar/pizzeria and 2 excellent restaurants, one situated overlooking the river, the other in the main square with a shady outdoor terrace. There is a small weekly market in the main square on Thursdays and an oyster stall every Sunday. At the leisure port, Les Canotiers hire electric boats, kayaks and pedalos and serve delicious salads, freshly squeezed juices and ice-creams. On the outskirts of the village you can visit an amazing open sculpture park, Les Lapidiales, created by local sculptors within an old stone quarry and now enhanced by new works produced each year by invited sculptors from around the world.

Port D'Envaux is one of Charente Maritime's classified "Villages of Stone and Water" which celebrates its rich history, attractive riverside position and impressive Charentaise houses, formerly owned by the boat owners, who used to ship cognac, salt and the famous local Crazannes stone from the quayside of the village. Today the old haulage path provides us with a picturesque stroll along the riverside to the boulangerie for our morning baguette and croissants!

Our nearest large town -a 10 mins drive - is Saintes, a thriving commercial centre which still retains its medieval heart and is renowned for its well preserved roman monuments, a triumphal arch and amphitheatre and Romanesque churches. It has a vibrant cultural life and hosts many concerts and festivals during the summer months. 30 mins to the east is Cognac, famed for the brandy distilleries which welcome visitors and a great Jazz festival every July. We are 45 mins from the bustling seaside towns of Royan and Fouras and approx 1 hr from nearest airports at La Rochelle and Bordeaux, both wonderful cities that are worth a day trip to explore.

As we have family in UK and go back often for visits, we are not looking for exchanges in UK.

Features

Main home

Garden

Balcony

Pool

Cleaner

Wifi

Cable TV

No pets

9 Reviews

Location

Cleanliness

Listing accuracy

Communication

Comfort

Jacobo

Stayed July 2016

“The house is really awesome, the village and region is lovely, and the owners are kind and very friendly. They have the house and the garden in a perfect way, and I have to say that they made our stay perfect. We enjoy a lot eat at the magnificent restaurants in the neighborhood, and with our excursions to the sea, where we rent bikes to see the zone.”

Kendall

Stayed September 2016

“My husband I had a fabulous stay in this lovely home. The hosts (Elaine and David) are most gracious and they had every detail considered-- from fresh cream in the fridge to warm bathrobes ready for us. Port-d'Envaux is a sweet town that provides the basic necessities and is an easy point of departure for day trips. The grounds and the pool were lovely and we enjoyed sitting on the veranda watching the boats periodically float by. We highly recommend this home if you're looking for a quiet, calm, luxurious retreat in the French countryside. ”

Penelope

Stayed July 2015

“We had a wonderful 1 week stay in this property. Elaine could not have done more for us. The house is beautiful as is the location. Plenty of things to do at home. Loved the boule and the pingpong not to mention the pool. Plenty of fun day trips too to nearby beaches and towns.
Sitting having breakfast by the river was wonderful and we still dream about it. ”

Don

Stayed September 2014

“Our swap with David and Elaine was magical. The house is set in a small town on the Charente River. Although the house is very old, they have done a magnificent job of upgrading all the amenities. The property is magnificent and close to many of the "must see" spots in the Bordeaux region.
The house is comfortable, roomy and elegant. We spent several evenings on the terrace with local wine and cheese watching the river.
I highly recommend a swap with David and Elaine.”

Julie

Stayed June 2015

“If I could give Elaine and David's amazing home six stars I would! Their home is simply stunning and they made our trip extremely memorable. Prior to the trip their communication and assistance was excellent - lots of advice about travel options and things to do during our stay. We had the privilege of meeting them on the day of our arrival - this made the trip even more special as we felt that we already knew Elaine after several months of correspondence so putting a face to the name was a perfect way to start our holiday. Elaine had left an amazing array of information about the local area and region. The house itself is beautiful and so tastefully decorated. The gardens were in full bloom and the scent of the jasmine at night will stay with me for ever. We can't thank Elaine and David enough for making our first European holiday with our children such a memorable experience. ”

Gary

Stayed May 2015

“This was our first swap and WOW- what a way to start. Elaine and David warmly welcomed us to their beautiful home, took us to lunch and provided every possible help they could to ensure we enjoyed our stay. We loved their home, the village and the beautiful drives in the surrounding areas. As beginners with Love Home Swap we learnt so much and we were extremely lucky to have benefited from Elaine and David's expertise and experience. We would love to visit again in the future.
Carol and Gary”

Stacie

Stayed August 2012

“Beautiful home with Perfect Yard”

3 things they loved about the trip

Beautifully furnished interior

Great yard for outside living and entertaining

Great location for strolling into town for dinner

Carole

Stayed July 2012

“Stunning home with the most gorgeous and tranquil views of the Charente River”

3 things they loved about the trip

Elaine and David were just a delightful couple and very welcoming

The home was so comfortable that we had a hard time leaving to see the sights

The village of Port'd Envaux was very charming and very accessible by foot that one did not have to get in a car to see it.

Judi

Stayed May 2011

“Perfect combination of authentic French village life and comfort and luxury ”

3 things they loved about the trip

Watching the passing boats on the riverside terrace with a glass of bordeaux in our hands

Staying in this beautiful historic home

Exploring the lovely, un-touristy countryside by bike.

“Relaxing in the lovely private garden with wonderful pool and covered al fresco dining area. Great day trips.”

More about us

Active retired British couple who have made their home in France. We have 2 adult daughters who live in UK who sometimes travel with us

We are enthusiastic travellers but do not want to give up the comfort and standards we enjoy at home

We enjoy good food, wine and company!

Dream destinations

Anywhere

Availability

Where is it?

Neighbourhood

Buzzy restaurants

Le Gabarier on your doorstep in Port D'Envaux. Dine under a 100 year wisteria at L'Auberge des Glycines in Taillebourg. People watch from the harbourside seafood restaurants in La Rochelle. Gaze out at the ocean from the terrace of Le Petit Poucet at St Palais. Enjoy fine dining with the locals in the pretty garden or chic dining room at Le Bruant, St Porchaire

Cool bars

Test the Bordeaux wines at La Cave Passe a Table in Saintes. Dip your toes in the river while sipping a chilled Pineau or Rose at Les Quais de Taillebourg.

Cozy cafés

Great pizzas from our village bistro. Hot chocolate at L'Epicerie in Saintes

Retail therapy

Good selection of shops and supermarkets and a large daily market at Saintes, 10 mins drive away. Brocantes for antiques and curios.

Bit of culture

The Roman amphitheatre and Germanicus Arch in Saintes. Concerts at the Abbaye aux Dames. The 17th century walled fortress at Brouage. The amazing scuptures that have been created on the site of an ancient stone quarry on the edge of the village - watch the sculptors at work during the summer months

Walks in the park

Amble along the riverside paths around the village - look out for herons, storks and our elusive kingfisher! Follow the old railway path to the chateaux of Panloy and Crazannes, on the outskirts of the village

Spot of exercise

A swing in a shady hammock; hire a canoe from Les Canotiers at the little port in the village,or waterski at Taillebourg. Use our two bicyles to explore the many coutryside lanes and water meadows around us. There are three good golf courses within a 40 min drive and a small pitch and putt course 10 mins away.

Day tripping

Bordeaux for an urban fix and impressive architecture. Cognac for the brandy distilleries and jazz festival. The islands of Oleron, Aix and Re for beautiful beaches and unspoilt villages and of course the famous Bordeaux vineyards and the world heritage town of St Emilion can be easily reached by car.